Council approves funding for Holidays on the River

Outdoor ice rink is centerpiece of planned ‘winter village'

Holiday on the River Project with a proposed skating rink going where the old Queen City Pool used to be located.

Staff Graphic | Anthony Bratina

By Jason MortonStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 9:59 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | A unanimous vote by the Tuscaloosa City Council on Tuesday put a proposed “winter village” on Jack Warner Parkway on pace for a Nov. 26 opening.

Dubbed Holidays on the River, the $157,000 project cleared both the council's Finance Committee and full City Council.

“I believe it's going to be a huge success based on gauging public sentiment,” said Councilman Lee Garrison, whose District 4 includes the “winter village.”

City officials' main concern was the bid for the 60-foot-by-85-foot ice skating rink next to the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum, which will serve as the centerpiece of the winter village.

The low bidder for the rink was Texas-based Ice Rink Events, which agreed to install a rink large enough to accommodate up to 152 skaters on the footprint of the Queen City Pool and supply at least 200 pairs of rental skates for a total of $70,000.

The contract calls for Ice Rink Events to get an additional $5 for every skater if more than 16,000 people use the rink.

Rates for access to a 90-minute skating session will be $10 for those who walk up to the box office. For $15, patrons can reserve a specific time slot online, although details for this process have not yet been provided.

Time constraints forced city officials to delay the public opening of the winter village, which will include the Transportation Museum and Tuscaloosa River Market, by three days. However, there was no

announced change in the Jan. 6 closing date.

To pay for the project, the city's Finance Committee endorsed — and the City Council approved — fronting a portion of the total cost through a series of General Fund revisions.

These costs include the $35,000 that Ice Rink Events required as an in-advance deposit because of the speed of installation and $10,000 for a media ad campaign. The city hopes to recover those expenditures through ticket sales — projected to total at least $120,000 — and $37,500 in sponsorships, which the city's newly formed Arts and Entertainment Department is seeking.

The six-week project will feature more than just a place for Southerners to get a chance to ice skate outside. The plan also calls for the installation of four snow-generating machines and an interconnection of various events and activities between the Transportation Museum on the south side of Jack Warner Parkway and the River Market across the road.

Farmers and craft vendors who operate out of the River Market will be able to sell their wares well into the winter, and patrons also will be able to attend holiday movies, choir performances and appearances by Santa Claus and his elves.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | A unanimous vote by the Tuscaloosa City Council on Tuesday put a proposed “winter village” on Jack Warner Parkway on pace for a Nov. 26 opening.</p><p>Dubbed Holidays on the River, the $157,000 project cleared both the council's Finance Committee and full City Council.</p><p>“I believe it's going to be a huge success based on gauging public sentiment,” said Councilman Lee Garrison, whose District 4 includes the “winter village.”</p><p>City officials' main concern was the bid for the 60-foot-by-85-foot ice skating rink next to the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum, which will serve as the centerpiece of the winter village.</p><p>The low bidder for the rink was Texas-based Ice Rink Events, which agreed to install a rink large enough to accommodate up to 152 skaters on the footprint of the Queen City Pool and supply at least 200 pairs of rental skates for a total of $70,000.</p><p>The contract calls for Ice Rink Events to get an additional $5 for every skater if more than 16,000 people use the rink.</p><p>Rates for access to a 90-minute skating session will be $10 for those who walk up to the box office. For $15, patrons can reserve a specific time slot online, although details for this process have not yet been provided.</p><p>Time constraints forced city officials to delay the public opening of the winter village, which will include the Transportation Museum and Tuscaloosa River Market, by three days. However, there was no </p><p>announced change in the Jan. 6 closing date.</p><p>To pay for the project, the city's Finance Committee endorsed — and the City Council approved — fronting a portion of the total cost through a series of General Fund revisions.</p><p>These costs include the $35,000 that Ice Rink Events required as an in-advance deposit because of the speed of installation and $10,000 for a media ad campaign. The city hopes to recover those expenditures through ticket sales — projected to total at least $120,000 — and $37,500 in sponsorships, which the city's newly formed Arts and Entertainment Department is seeking.</p><p>The six-week project will feature more than just a place for Southerners to get a chance to ice skate outside. The plan also calls for the installation of four snow-generating machines and an interconnection of various events and activities between the Transportation Museum on the south side of Jack Warner Parkway and the River Market across the road.</p><p>Farmers and craft vendors who operate out of the River Market will be able to sell their wares well into the winter, and patrons also will be able to attend holiday movies, choir performances and appearances by Santa Claus and his elves.</p><p>Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0200.</p>